Builder claims suited man demanded his tube seat, because his ‘job was better'

By Mark James

According to the 19-year-old builder the incident occurred at Green Park, just before Christmas.

Mind the finance manager

Jamie Loveday - the builder in question - was on the tube home from a job in Westminster, when he claims a well-spoken and smartly dressed man told him to vacate his seat.

Loveday states the suited man offered no explanation other than that he was ‘finance manager of an upmarket hotel’, this apparently entitling him to a tube seat ahead of other passengers - including builders like Loveday.

No love lost

“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and said “excuse me” before saying no I wasn’t going to give up my seat. Everyone’s faces around me dropped.

“He muttered “this is outrageous” and stormed off down the carriage before asking the same question to a Chinese girl who moved for him.

“He probably thought because he earns more money than me he could intimidate me. I was in my dusty clothes and he was in a Calvin Klein suit.”

A common occurrence?

According to Loveday this wasn’t the first time he’d been a victim of snobbery in the capital either.
A week prior to the incident he said he was helped by an elderly gentleman after dropping his tools on the Tube, while men in smartly dressed suits “walked over him”. Loveday added: “It annoyed me that he was so arrogant to think he was better than me but I find it happens in London.”

Have you ever experienced anything like this? Let us know in the comments section below.